“Sure thing. Who’s Ellery?” he asked with a playful grin.
“She’s in the back.” Harper gestured to the café, and a doorway that led to what I assumed was the café kitchen.
“Aye, aye, Captain,” Evan said, heading off to do what she’d asked. He walked past the café tables and around the counter like he’d done so a hundred times before, flashing a smile and a wink at the young girl making a pot of coffee.
She let out an audible squeak and dropped the coffee filter, spilling fresh grounds all over the floor.
“Shit, sorry, love.” Evan backtracked, looking for a way to help her out. He crouched, scooping some of the grinds back into the ruined filter.
“It’s f-fine,” the girl stuttered, turning a dark shade of red. She skirted around him and headed into the kitchen, reappearing a moment later with a broom and dustpan. Her cheeks were still flushed with embarrassment. “I’ve got it from here.”
Evan shrugged, straightening up and dusting his hands on his jeans before continuing to the kitchen.
“Dare, could you help me grab the treat bags?” Harper asked.
“Sure thing,” I said.
“Give me a second.” She picked up a purple curtain and went to Calum. She said something to him and he pulled his keys out of his pocket, handing them over to her.
As he did so, he leaned forward, capturing her lips in a kiss. She kissed him back for a moment, then grinned against his lips and shoved at his chest playfully, pressing the purple curtain into his hands. She walked back, and I followed her as she led the way outside.
She pulled the key fob and hit the unlock trunk button. The Jeep’s trunk opened slowly, revealing two large boxes full of goodie bags. Harper picked one up and passed it to me before grabbing the other.
“I appreciate you guys coming early to help out,” Harper said, flashing an almost timid smile at me. “I’m sorry we’ve been occupying more of Cal’s time lately.”
“It’s okay, we’ve had him for the last nine years,” I pointed out with a smile. She laughed lightly, and I could tell she was feeling a little awkward about things.
“Yeah, I guess that’s true.” She sighed, biting down on her bottom lip.
“None of us are mad at you—we get it. You made your choices, and he made his, but it looks like those choices have brought you back together again. I’m really happy for you both.”
She nodded. “Thanks, Dare. That means a lot.”
“Can I let you in on a secret though?” I arched a brow and she nodded, moving closer to hear it. “Cal was a miserable prick from the moment he left you until the moment he saw a chance to get you back.”
Harper’s eyes widened with surprise. “Really? He seemed to be enjoying himself.”
“That wasn’t Cal enjoying himself and you know it. That was Cal riding the self-sabotage train.” I shook my head, glancing at the Jeep he’d bought to replace what was undoubtedly a flashy rental. He hadn’t wasted any time setting up a permanent place for himself here, so he could be close to them. “He wasn’t happy without you, that’s a fact.”
“I wanted him to be happy,” Harper said quietly as we started walking back to the bookstore. “It’s why I didn’t try to chase him down. I figured he didn’t want me to.”
“I think he had to find out for himself.” I shrugged. “And he has. He knows what it’s like to live without you. He won’t make the same mistake again.”
“And what about you guys? Are you okay with relocating back home?” Harper frowned, eyeing me while she waited for me to answer.
“Yeah, so long as we’re still playing music together, I don’t care where our home base is. Neither does Evan.”
When we walked back into the bookstore, we spotted Evan straightaway, helping Ellery set up the snack table. He kept trying to steal treats, and Ellery smacked the back of his hand away. “Those are for the kids,” she instructed with a frown.
“They couldn’t possibly missone,” Evan insisted.
“That’s what you said the last six times I caught you stealing,” Ellery sighed, rolling her eyes and stepping away. “You’re going to eat all the treats before the party guests even arrive.”
I followed Harper to the table set up by the door. A purple tablecloth covered it, and she started to line up the goodie bags.
“Expecting lots of kids?”
“A few. We always invite all of Asher’s classmates, so nobody feels left out.” Harper smiled, working quickly and efficiently. I followed suit, lining up the goodie bags on the other side. They were heavy, as if they each contained a book. Curious, I looked inside one. I spotted candy, a handful of temporary tattoos, and a book calledThe Minecraft Diaries.
